Washing-machine



UNITED SATES A BEIGE.

J. IV. CRANE, JR., OF FREEPORT, ILLINOIS.

VVASHIIINGr-MACI-IINE.V

Specification of Letters Patent No. 28,659, dated June 12, 1860.

To all 'whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J. IV. CRANE, Jr., of Freeport, in the county of Stephenson and State of Illinois, have invented a new and Improved Clothes-Washing Machine; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l, is a side sectional view of my invention. Fig. 2, a plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the two figures.

To enable those skilled in the art to fully understand and construct my invention I will proceed to describe it.

A represents a rectangular box which may be of any proper dimension and B, is a cylinder which is fitted transversely in the upper part of the box A. This cylinder B, is of wood and it is corrugated or iuted longitudinally. The journals of the cylinder B, are fitted in fixed bearings.

C, D, are two frames which have rollers a, fitted in them, said rollers being parallel with the cylinder B, and quite small in diameter. The frames C, D, are formed of side pieces b, in which the ournals of the rollers are fitted. The forward frame C, is of slightly concave form and it extends underneath the cylinder B, and is suspended at its front end by rods c, c, from springs E, E, which are attached at each side of the box A. The frame C, is also somewhat inclined and its back and most elevated end is connected by joints to the front end of the frame D, the back end of which is fitted loosely on a rod or shaft I", that passes through the sides of the box. To theunder side of the frame C, rods G, are attached one at each side. These rods pass through pendants H, which are attached to the frame D, and on each rod G, a spiral spring I, is placed. This manner of suspending the front frame C, or connecting it with the springs E, E, I, I, and with the frame D, admits of a peculiar yielding movement of the frames C, D, the frame C, being much more yielding having an almost universal play or movement, as it can work to a certain extent, forward, backward, and downward and upward. The frames C, D, by this arrangement are allowed to yield or give perfectly to the clothes as the same pass underneath the fluted cylinder. The box A, is supplied with a requisite quantity of suds, and the clothes work back and forth between the cylinder and frames until perfectly cleansed. VThe operator by pressing with the left hand the frame C, can regulate the pressure as required. The liner clothes to be washed may be rolled up within eoarser ones such as bed sheets and the like, the latter being folded and the articles fitted between the folds. The backward and upward movement of the clothes is assisted by the left hand of the operator. The cylinder B, may be turned back and forth through the medium of certain gearing ax.

I am aware that yielding concaves have been used in clothes-washing and other machines, but, so far as I am aware an arrangement of springs as herein described has never been applied to roller frames, for the purpose of admitting4 of a perfect yielding movement of the same. I do not claim therefore broadly irrespective of the arrangement herein shown and described the employment or use of yielding roller frames in connection with a fluted cylinder; but

I do claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent- The arrangement of the hinged concave frame C, in combination with the frame D, the vertically acting spring E, adjusting connecting rod c, pendant H, rod G, and the horizontally acting spring I, all as and for the purpose herein shown and described.

J. W. CRANE, JR.

Witnesses:

JOSEPH B. SMITH, J. W. CRANE. 

